Obviously that's in Spanish, so I had Google take a crack at translating it and it's kind of "blah", so if anyone can do a manual translation that would be nice.

The NBA trusts recovering to Rakocevic

The figure of Igor Rakocevic exaggerates every day more. To the interest of Europe average to take control of their services, the NBA by mouth of Mitch Kupchak was added yesterday. The manager of Los Angeles Lakers, showed his firm belief that the Serb will return to prove fortune in the American league. "Igor he is a mature player and known - in clear reference to that it is not a promise which is to follow the progression -. All the ojeadores already they know him very well and I am convinced that the next season will play in the NBA, but not in the Lakers.

There are two or three equipment that already has negotiations very outposts with him ", he assured Kupchak in the vestibule Sportska Centrala. Tax exemptions like Boston Celtics, New York Knicks or Indiana.pacers are those that have more been interested in the escort "plavi". Of to have closed the Pamesa the renovation of the Serb - there was agreement in the essential and always more thorny, the card -, and not to have insisted on a clause from exit to the crazy and illogical NBA - three million euros -, the player would have two years more of contract and it would have been put full stop to as much speculation. In any case, and to persist the NBA in taking it again to it - something always inevitable -, the Valencian club had kept the trick from a generous indemnification. The time will dictate sentence....

Certainly nothing impressive there. The assumption has to be that he's improved his game to be receiving any attention from the NBA now.

Skaut_Ech

03-12-2005, 01:43 PM

http://www.hoopshype.com/players/igor_rakocevic.htm

"Excellent athleticism and great quickness... Good ballhandler... Very good scorer... Has a knack for driving to the basket... Dangerous on back door cuts... Has yet to develop a more consistent jump shot."

Check out the link above for more info.

I can only tell you one thing I remember hearing about him years ago. He's supposed to be really, really quick. He sounds, to me like a bigger version of Speedy Claxton with three point range.

I like that he was on championship teams.

Interesting prospect.

Here's some more stuff for you:

Igor signed with Pinnacle in 2003. He was a second round draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2000. Igor has emerged as arguably the top point guard in all of Europe. He has been dominant during the 2003-2004 season, playing for Red Star in his native Belgrade. Igor is the leading scorer of the Adriatic League and one of the top scorers in the ULEB Cup. Igor has also been a mainstay for the Serbian National Team in the past.

* Member of the Yugoslavian Under 22 National Team at the ’97 Worlds and ’98 European Championships –- won the gold medal and MVP at the European Championships

* Named Yugoslavian League Most Improved Player in 1998

The Serbian guard is having an excellent season in Spain, and the Timberwolves might be regretting not giving him more chances while he was playing for them. Rakocevic is a huge scorer who enjoys a deadly jumper from anywhere on the floor. He delivers it very quick and from very high, so he needs very little space to release it, and can also make it off the dribble.[ He’s also a nice slasher, possessing an excellent first step, good handles and great quickness, although his size limits his effectiveness if some big body is in the right place near the basket ready to intimidate him, while he's not as fluid finishing with his right as he is with his left.

He’s one of the top scorers in the Spanish ACB League this season and did not disappoint in the King’s Cup. He had a few quarters of incredible point production, scoring basket after basket. He looks like a player that has an extra gear he can go to whenever he wants compared with almost everyone else.

In the Cup, as he’s doing lately and for the most of the season, he played as an off-guard, where his scoring abilities can be maximized. Besides, having another excellent point guard in the roster in the form of Olympic champion Montecchia and the point center (it’s no joke) Dejan Tomasevic, the distributing duties are well covered. Anyway, he proved his ability to pass the ball last year in Serbia, especially when taking his man off the dribble.

Rakocevic finishes his current contract this summer, but he might have something signed for the future before this season ends. Anyway, I think he deserves some attention from the NBA pros.

Jermaniac

03-12-2005, 01:53 PM

Man it would be great if we signed Igor, he is from my Country and he is a solid PG, he can knock down shots, very quick, can get to the basket easy, good passer, he just needs to work on his defense and I'm sure Rick can help him with that.

kerosene

03-12-2005, 08:57 PM

"ojeadores" means groupies

well, not really, but it's pretty fun to read that way.

3ptmiller

03-12-2005, 09:41 PM

He is a great player, ive seen him play here in my country with Crvena Zvezda (a team in yugoslavia).. he lead the team in Scoring and Assists, very athletic (43" vertical leap) so ive heard... If i would compare one player in the League with him it would be Steve Francis, but with better shooting touch and team play.. im sure the pacers could use him! But im not sure how he will fit in the NBA, they will probably bench him as backup i guess... another waste of talent

LOL, i didnt knew he was in the NBA :o... this guy is like Drazen Petrovic ffs!! he should get more minutes!

indygeezer

03-12-2005, 11:55 PM

shall we tick em off???

Lessee...

a couple years ago there was this cat named Fooooshhka or something

then there was another last year and no this year.....

Suaveness

03-13-2005, 12:18 AM

We don't need another SG if Jackson is going to play it.

Jermaniac

03-13-2005, 12:20 AM

Igor is a PG

travmil

03-13-2005, 12:51 AM

"ojeadores" means groupies

well, not really, but it's pretty fun to read that way.

LOL. Someone should chop words out of that post and let the rest of us fill it in Mad Lib style. Sounds like fun...

Mourning

03-13-2005, 11:21 AM

Well... we DO need an extra back up PG, don't we? Until when does Gill's contract run? I like him, but I would take an upgrade with both hands AND feet at the PG position and since it seems AJ will be hard to trade than Eddie has to go IF we want to get this guy. Seems like a reasonable risk to take him, atleast to me, but, hey, I'm not paying the players salaries ;).

Regards,

Mourning :cool:

Skaut_Ech

03-13-2005, 11:42 AM

After doing all that research on the links I posted earlier in the thread (I found a bunch of other info, but I didn't post it all.), I gotta say I'm fairly hyped, based on what I read, that this guys could be a nice fit for us. He's had a taste of the NBA, he's won overseas and he's a PG who can light it up and is greased fart quick. Sign me up!

He is a great player, ive seen him play here in my country with Crvena Zvezda (a team in yugoslavia).. he lead the team in Scoring and Assists, very athletic (43" vertical leap) so ive heard... If i would compare one player in the League with him it would be Steve Francis, but with better shooting touch and team play.. im sure the pacers could use him! But im not sure how he will fit in the NBA, they will probably bench him as backup i guess... another waste of talent

Thanks for the first hand insight 3ptmiller. He sounds like one of those guys who just needs the right NBA team to stick and be productive.

ReggieMiller8325

03-13-2005, 01:20 PM

This would be a great pick up and my favorite pacer if Miller retires next year.